Did Jesus really rise from the dead? Here are four things that modern scholars, including skeptical scholars, almost universally agree on. (This is a very brief summary of the original):

1. Jesus died and was buried in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea.

2. A group of women found the tomb empty on Easter morning.

3. Over 500 people really and truly believed that they saw Jesus alive.

4. The Christian faith exploded to all the known world in a very short period of time thereafter.

The best explanation for these events is that Jesus really did rise from the dead. But here are 3 alternative explanations, and why each has been discredited.

a. The disciples stole Jesus' body. This theory has been universally rejected by critical scholars and survives only in the popular press. This theory is rejected for several reasons, not the least of which is that the disciples were all killed for their faith. People will allow themselves to be martyred for what they believe to be true, but will not die for a lie.

b. Jesus did not really die on the cross. This theory has been entirely abandoned by critical thinkers for medical facts about crucifixion.

c. The disciples hallucinated. This theory too has been rejected by scholars as psychologically impossible. Hallucinations are usually associated with mental illness or drugs. And while one person can hallucinate, a large group of people do not hallucinate together.

For the entire article from our website that offers the classical evidentiary apologetic on the resurrection, go to:

We have all come across people who profess to be Atheists and here is a little challenge to make to people who think the Bible and God arent relevant.

During a question and answer session at a recent speaking engagement, a University student asked, “Why do you believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God?”

Now this is a very interesting question; and probably one of the most important questions any Christian could ask themselves. What is so special, so unique about the Bible that Christians believe it is literally the inspired word of God? In answering this student’s question, I encouraged him to consider the following facts about the Bible:

First, the Bible is not just one single book. This is a more common misconception than many people realize, especially with people who do not come from a Judeo-Christian background. Rather than being a single book, the Bible is actually a collection of 66 books, which is called the canon scriptures. These 66 books contain a variety of genres: history, poetry, prophecy, wisdom, literature, letters, and apocalyptic just to name a few.

Second, these 66 books were written by 40 different authors. These authors came from a variety of backgrounds: shepherds, fishermen, doctors, kings, prophets, and others. And most of these authors never knew one another personally.

Third, these 66 books were written over a period of 1500 years. Yet again, this is another reminder that many of these authors never knew or collaborated with one another in writing these books. Fourth, the 66 books of the Bible were written in 3 different languages. In the Bible we have books that were written in the ancient languages of Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic; a reflection of the historical and cultural circumstances in which each of these books were written. And finally, these 66 books were written on 3 different continents: Africa, Asia, and Europe . Once again, this is a testament to the varied historical and cultural circumstances of God’s people.

Think about the above realities: 66 books, written by 40 different authors, over 1500 years, in 3 different languages, on 3 different continents. What’s more, this collection of books shares a common storyline- the creation, fall, and redemption of God’s people; a common theme- God’s universal love for all of humanity; and a common message-salvation is available to all who repent of their sins and commit to following God with all of their heart, soul, mind and strength. In addition to sharing these commonalities, these 66 books contain no historical errors or contradictions. God’s word truly is an amazing collection of writings!

After I had shared the above facts with this student, I offered him the following challenge: I said to him, “If you do not believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God, if you do not believe that the Bible is of a supernatural origin, than I challenge you to a test.” I said to the student, “I challenge you to go to any library in the world, you can choose any library you like, and find 66 books which match the characteristics of the 66 books in the Bible. You must choose 66 books, written by 40 different authors, over 1500 years, in 3 different languages, written on 3 different continents. However, they must share a common storyline, a common theme, and a common message, with no historical errors or contradictions.” I went on to say, “If you can produce such a collection of books, I will admit that the Bible is not the inspired word of God.” The student’s reply was almost instantaneous, he emphatically stated, “But that’s impossible!”

“But that’s impossible!” It truly is impossible, for any collection of human writings. However, the Bible passes this test. The Bible contains 66 books, written by 40 different authors, over 1500 years, in 3 different languages, on 3 different continents, with no historical errors or contradictions. The entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, bears the mark of Divine inspiration.

The next time you encounter someone who asks you why you believe the Bible is the inspired word of God, try sharing this challenge with them. Better yet, don’t wait until you’re asked, just go ahead and share this challenge with a friend today..

You don’t even have to mention the Bible up front, just ask them if they think it would be realistic to assemble such a collection of books. After they say, “But that’s impossible!” you’ve got a ready-made opportunity for sharing the truth of God’s word with somebody.

The way you live your life influences others ~ Be Blessed ~ Be a Blessing

Respectfully,

Gerald

8
posted on 03/31/2013 2:53:47 PM PDT
by lonestar
(It takes a village of idiots to elect a village idiot.)

It may be the foundation of Christianity and it may also have been true.

The trouble is that there is NO documentation of those facts until many decades after the event and under two circumstances -
1. By Paul who never was known to have met anyone by the the name of Jesus or Jesua.
2. By the disciples who had not written ANYTHING for well over two full decades and then only at the urging of Paul.
3. The writings of the disciples was “probably” inscribed (by a single scribe) whos writings were strangely similar in most parts (or many party at least) which indicates a singular writer who elaborated of vague verbal recitation by the disciples.

Other “Roman” documentation mentions nothing about Jesus and/or his disciples by name but does mention that there were many “Self Proclaimed” Messiahs. John the Baptist was mentioned many times but considered harmless so they left him alone as he was apparently doing no harm and was actually helping keep the population calm and non violent.

The writings of the disciples was probably inscribed (by a single scribe) whose writings were strangely similar in most parts (or many parts at least) which indicates a singular writer who elaborated of vague verbal recitation by the disciples.

This is nonsense. Some basic literary analysis will convince even the most skeptical that the New Testament was not written by a single scribe.

Read “Religion on Trial,” by Craig Parton, wherein he subjects everything the Bible says about Jesus Christ, including the Resurrection, to the standards of proof that would be required of a capital case in a court of law.
For Parton’s bona fides, see his web site.

How sad for you.
Of course the accounts are similar there were eye witnesses.
Ever heard of Josephus.
When you are talking about “documentation” did you except they kept hard drives and passed them down through the years?
Or you are dismissing the first hand accounts of Jesus’ followers?
What documentation do you want?
2,000 years of history, when would yo be satisfied?

25
posted on 03/31/2013 5:27:45 PM PDT
by svcw
(Why is one cell on another planet considered life, and in the womb it is not.)

Since you are interested in documentation, please document: *your findings which document Paul never met Jesus
*your findings which document that Paul urged the disciples to write down their accounts AND they did not do this for decades
*your finding that documents a single scribe wrote all accounts
*your findings that documents no other accounts were written that mentioned Jesus

26
posted on 03/31/2013 5:32:31 PM PDT
by svcw
(Why is one cell on another planet considered life, and in the womb it is not.)

However, I watch the Bloviator because for many years I've been regularly posting his most egregious errors, sins, weaseling, fence-straddling, moral equivalencies, interruptions, overtalking and arrogance....and most of all his statist/populist meanderings, crusades and righteous indignations.

Besides all that, I want to be the first to report on this board the night that Bill finally admits on the air that Obama is a SOCIALIST. The word still hasn't passed his lips in all the five years of the Hussein presidency. He stated a couple weeks ago that he STILL doesn't think the Won is a socialist.

It's almost like someone will have to whack him on the back of his head so that the "S-word" will fly out of his throat of its own volition.

I always like to keep tabs on what the enemies of the Republic are doing and saying....a handy habit I got into when I first read the Communist Manifesto and Alinsky's "Rules for Radicals" decades ago.

I believe in PUSHING BACK on every TV leftie and propagandist in my own little way.

Fact - Paul NEVER mentioned such a meeting. If he had I can guarantee he would have mentioned it in his letters.

Logic dictates your second question. The disciples NEVER wrote anything until Paul (who was in Rome and under house arrest) and was trying to collect as much documentation as he could from people. He wrote to everyone one he could find in and around Israel that may have known Jesus and his disciples.

It was during this time (over 20 plus years after the fact) that Paul apparently made contact and received the letters which were to be used in his defense for treason against the Roman Deities.

One can logically come to that conclusion by reading the different chapters of the bible and not the many similarities which is not normal. 12 people each writing their own letters speak in different term and remember things in various mannerisms. That is why I suggest that a single scribe wrote the letters for the Disciples because it was well known that none of them knew how to write in ANY language. They were all commoners and commoners were not allowed to learn to read and write except if given permission by the Pharisees or the Romans.

Can YOU point to ANY documents during that time that mentions Jesua (Jesus).

Apply your questions to yourself and see what kind of answers you can come up with. Study and learn. Research, Research and even more Research shows no such mention - except by the efforts of Paul and no letters between him and the Disciples have ever surfaced.

Josephus did not even start his research until 60 to 70 years after the fact. Much of what he wrote on other subjects were pure and simple “Hear say” and “conjecture”. That is why only Christians point to him as credible. Nobody else ever mentions his works except to say that he got very few of his fact straight, regardless of his subject.

Oral history was pretty accurate until the advent of written language and this event was on the cusp of said event. The Greeks were teaching everyone they could find how to read and write but the skill of Oral history was all that existed in Israel during the time of this event. Herod would chop the heads or crucify people who were not authorized to read and write. He controlled the Scribes and copies of everything they wrote on any subject (even transactions between business men) was sent to Herod.

The Followers of Jesus did not write down squat. It was against the law unless you were Greek, Roman or Jewish Royalty.

There were quite a few writers (including Herod) who NEVER mentioned Jesus and his disciples.

2,000 years of history, or 2,000 year of misrepresentation by the early Catholic Church? THEY were the ones who picked and choose what was to be written and what was to be ignored or covered up.

I have studied many subjects and one thing I have found out is that ALL stories get exaggerated and facts get lost because those people during that era did not have the privilege of reading and writing. IT WAS AGAINST THE LAW for a commoner to read and write.

That is what scribes were for. Then the scribe would send ALL copies to King Herod.

Example - Did the Vikings wear helmets with horns on them?

No. Vagner invented that for his operas. It was Broonhilda that was the first to have horns on a so called Viking Helmet.

I doubt any human can translate ANY document over 2000 years and not end up with facts that are so screwed up that the original writing would not be recognized if it was ever found.

Historians NEVER report fact on any subject unless the ORIGINAL document can be found. Human nature is to modify, translate to their new language or beliefs and in 2000 years you would not recognize much if anything of the original document let alone the original events.

What facts we do have are partial parchments from the 5th century century and they look NOTHING LIKE OUR CURRENT BIBLE but only a hint of the same storyline.

Sorry, sweetie you are the one apparently denying it all, I accept the first hand accounts and those already listed it is you who claim they are bogus.
Provide your documentation to back up your claim, I already have, you just apparently aren’t interested.

36
posted on 04/01/2013 1:22:17 PM PDT
by svcw
(Why is one cell on another planet considered life, and in the womb it is not.)

I have no proof except the bible which in no way today resembles the 5th century parchments that were the Bible then, and what about the variations that occurred in the 5 centuries before that?

No WISE man ever believes a story in its entirety unless he has the original document. WE have nothing close to the original documents, so believe what you want, just don’t expect me to believe what you do as I know stories change DRASTICALLY through time and translations.

It is a nice story and I wish it were true but I know history and history tells me that stories change with the passing of each printing. EVEN (Treasure Island) by Robert Lewis Stevenson.

For example - when did Saul/Paul first meet Jesus? On the road to Damascus? Perhaps, but as a Jerusalem Pharisee, it would have been nearly impossible for Saul to not have encountered the Messiah during the time of His ministry - and it was the Pharisees who were the foremost members of the ruling council that had the Christ judicially assassinated. When Jesus said, on the road to Damascus, “I am Jesus whom thou persecutest,” it was after Christ’s resurrection when no one could persecute Him; Jesus may have made the statement as a reminder of what Saul had done prior to and during Christ’s killing. Saul very likely debated with Christ in Jerusalem (Christ’s encounters with the Pharisees are described in detail - and the Pharisees were always humiliated by the Truth that Christ spoke), debates that Saul lost - hence his violent hatred for Christ and then Christians

Sorry sweetie. I deny anything that rings of fable and not fact. A true believer wants facts substantiated by documents, multiple sources and logic.

I believe part but recognize that most of what is written today is fable to glorify further and not provide substance.

I also believe that God is indeed present but not in the form most people think. God is everywhere - therefore God IS THE UNIVERSE ITSELF.

There is more to life than just getting up in the morning and surviving the day. We need inspiration but we also need facts and most of the bible is a fairy tale that can in no manner be substantiated except by faith and/or folly.

sorry...couldn't resist...cuz i'm still chuckling at the 'his face rang a bell' comment.

actually, for me, the true belief comes from a true, personal "knowing"...little answers to prayers.... the sudden feeling of peace at times when I need it most....little miracles which have happened in my life. no document from Jesus needed to substantiate anything. in fact, that's kind of what faith is all about, isn't it?

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